CA / Big Sur
CA · Tap water records
Big Sur tap water, in plain English
Here is what the EPA's own data shows about tap water in Big Sur. According to EPA SDWIS data retrieved June 2026, Big Sur is served by 10 active community water systems, together reported to serve about 2,046 people.
As of June 2026, EPA records show 62 violations across the community water system(s) serving Big Sur, going back to the earliest EPA record. 43 of these are classified by the EPA as health-based (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks); the rest are monitoring or reporting violations. Each is listed by system below, with its status.
What the EPA has on record, by system
Nepenthe Ws
618 served · surface water · PWSID CA2701280 - Monitoring Nitrate: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in December 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
- Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in October 2018. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Post Ranch Inn Ws
416 served · groundwater · PWSID CA2702299 As of June 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Esalen Institute Ws
246 served · surface water · PWSID CA2701295 - Monitoring Coliform (TCR): a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in March 2004. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Ventana Big Sur Inn Ws
193 served · surface water · PWSID CA2702328 As of June 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Fernwood Ws
184 served · surface water · PWSID CA2702325 - Monitoring Nitrate: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times in January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
- Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between January 2018 and January 2020. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
- Monitoring Surface Water Treatment Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in June 2015. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Coastlands Mws (Post Creek)
129 served · surface water · PWSID CA2701279 - Health-based Surface Water Treatment Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded once in November 2016. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
- Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in October 2017. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Clear Ridge Wa
123 served · surface water · PWSID CA2701898 - Health-based Surface Water Treatment Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 15 times between July 2012 and October 2015. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Rancho Chaparral Mwc
58 served · surface water · PWSID CA2701278 - Health-based Surface Water Treatment Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 13 times between October 2012 and October 2015. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
- Monitoring Surface Water Treatment Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in September 2012. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
New Camaldoli Hermitage Ws
44 served · surface water · PWSID CA2702268 - Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in October 2017. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Partington Mwc
35 served · surface water · PWSID CA2701263 - Health-based Surface Water Treatment Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 14 times between October 2012 and October 2015. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
- Monitoring Surface Water Treatment Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 4 times between October 2011 and September 2012. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
What this means
A health-based violation means a contaminant was recorded above the limit the EPA tracks for it. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was late or missed — not that a contaminant was measured above a limit. “Returned to compliance” means the EPA recorded the issue as resolved.
This page summarizes the EPA's own records and does not assess whether your water is safe to drink. For the most current details, you can verify every record directly with the EPA, and contact your water system with questions.
Source: U.S. EPA Envirofacts SDWIS, retrieved June 2026. Records cover the EPA's full reporting history for these systems. Verify at EPA ECHO.